Police Beat Anti-Mubarak Protesters in Cairo

Dozens of protesters were kicked, beaten with clubs and thrown into trucks Saturday by hundreds of police and plainclothes agents who rushed the streets to stifle a protest against President Hosni Mubarak.

The beatings erupted in the heart of downtown Cairo just days after Mubarak announced his candidacy in Egypt’s first open presidential election.

The Egyptian regime has touted September’s vote as a groundbreaking step toward democracy. It would be the first time Egyptians have had a chance to choose a president from among multiple candidates; the 77-year-old Mubarak has enjoyed a 24-year run as uncontested ruler since he succeeded Anwar Sadat, who was assassinated.

Critics say the election is an artifice designed to ease international pressures from the U.S. and elsewhere without stripping Mubarak of power. Saturday’s beatings hinted at a gap between Mubarak’s stated intentions to create a more democratic Egypt and the daily reality in this tumultuous, unprecedented campaign season.

“What happened today was a massacre, a sick joke,” said Aida Seif Dawla, a human rights activist who was among the demonstrators beaten Saturday. “American people should understand that this is Mubarak, Bush’s ally.”

A collection of opposition parties and anti-Mubarak organizations, including Kifaya, or Enough, had called for a protest a few hours before sunset in Tahrir Square. Set in the shadow of the Arab League headquarters, the American University and the Egyptian Museum, the square is the symbolic epicenter of this sprawling city.

But the demonstration was choked off before it began. Police and security agents ringed the square, and hundreds of plainclothes officers loitered in formation in front of restaurants and shops. Tourists who paused on the sidewalks were ordered to keep moving.

The frustrated demonstrators broke into smaller groups and scattered down side streets. Police gave chase.

Demonstrators erupted into chants of “Freedom, freedom, where are you?” and “Down with Hosni Mubarak!” Security agents came running toward them with clubs held high. Demonstrators who weren’t quick enough were beaten and kicked.

Startled shopkeepers struggled to roll down the metal grates to protect their front windows from flailing clubs.

Soon, dozens of demonstrators were corralled on a single block, facing hundreds of police and security forces.

A skinny young man was laid out on the scuffed hood of a parked car, bloodied and dazed. His eyes rolled back in his head; his colleagues screamed for an ambulance and spat water in his face to cool him.

“People of Egypt, here’s the terrorism!” cried a demonstrator named Safa Mouweilhei. “The terrorism is central security.”

This isn’t the first time Mubarak’s reforms have been marred by street violence. Egyptians went to the polls in May to vote “yes” or “no” to a constitutional amendment calling for presidential elections. On that day, security forces and Mubarak supporters cracked down on demonstrators and journalists. Dozens of protesters were badly beaten. Some women were stripped of their clothes and sexually molested.

After clashing with police, more than 100 demonstrators chanted anti-Mubarak slogans on the steps of a journalism association for a few hours.

Just a few days ago, the communications director of Mubarak’s campaign characterized the violence of referendum day as a mistake that would not happen again.

“There is a commitment that this should not be repeated,” said Mohammed Kamel. “The [ruling] party has already condemned what happened.... That’s why we have a structure. There will be no freelancers, no rogue elements.”